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MDS-30021 - Module Specification
Institute for Innovation and Teaching Excellence
Faculty of Medicine & Health Sciences

For academic year: 2022/23 Last Updated: 19 January 2023

MDS-30021 - Podcast and Radio Production
Coordinator: Catherine Chambers
Lecture Time: See Timetable...
Level: Level 6
Credits: 15
Study Hours: 150
School Office:

Programme/Approved Electives for 2022/23

None

Available as a Free Standing Elective

Yes

Co-requisites

None

Prerequisites

None

Barred Combinations

None

Description for 2022/23

Have you ever wanted to produce your own podcast and get a helping hand from podcast producers and commissioners in the process? The "democratisation" of podcasting led to a boom in the medium and a burst of new talent as DIY podcasters mingle alongside big names, and online media giants such as Amazon get in on the act. Now it¿s your turn. This practice-based module gives you the opportunity to develop your own podcast; learn audio storytelling techniques, basic production skills and social marketing strategies to enable you to produce your own podcast and promote it to your target audience on an online platform, with advice and feedback from practitioners.
We¿ll also analyse podcast trends and the enduring popularity of certain genres such as the `true crime¿ genre and deconstruct the storytelling techniques used in #1 iTunes podcast series `Serial¿ alongside the growth of audio fiction, with podcasts such as Limetown and sci-fi drama `Welcome to Nightvale¿. This module also explores the impact of podcasting on the media landscape, including how podcasting has influenced public service broadcasting, with the BBC positioning podcasts as the gateway to its radio services through BBC Sounds, as well as the trend towards podcast adaptation for TV.

Aims
This module will introduce students to podcasting and radio; they will analyse the global growth in podcasting and discuss the contributing factors to this growth and its influence on the wider media landscape, in particular radio. Students will critically reflect on the difference between radio and podcasting and evaluate the impact of podcasting on radio production. This practice-based module will introduce students to the concept of editorial decision-making in developing ideas and planning and producing content; they will learn ideation techniques and technical production skills as well as social media marketing skills to enable them to pitch, develop, produce and market their own podcast.
Students will appraise the role of `target audiences¿ in developing their own content ideas, be able to identify different podcast genres and formats and critically review different podcast production styles. They will learn how to apply the principles of storytelling to create a narrative, to identify the most appropriate genre and format for their podcast and how to build an audience. This module aims to increase student confidence in presenting their ideas, factual or fiction, through the medium of audio to specific audiences.

Talis Aspire Reading List
Any reading lists will be provided by the start of the course.
http://lists.lib.keele.ac.uk/modules/mds-30021/lists

Intended Learning Outcomes

Critically evaluate a range of podcast formats and genres with reference to editorial and production values: 2
Critically reflect on changes in media platforms, audience behaviours and technologies that shape podcast and radio production today: 2
Develop and produce a podcast proposal using industry-standard criteria: 1
Apply the principles of audio storytelling to develop a narrative: 1
Demonstrate basic editorial and production skills in podcast production (eg contributor research, production planning, scripting, interviewing techniques): 1
Evaluate the effectiveness of a range of social media marketing techniques used to promote your podcast: 2
Reflect on the development of their own creative production skills and how these can be applied in different contexts, in particularly supporting the development of employability skills: 2

Study hours


Contact = 30
12 hours workshops
18 hours lectures / tutorials
Independent = 120
60 preparation for taught classes (to include reading, listening, asynchronous tasks)
60 preparation of assessments.

School Rules

None

Description of Module Assessment

1: Group Project weighted 50%
A 15 minute audio podcast and 30-60 second trailer
Students will produce a 15-minute podcast, factual or fiction, a 30-60 second trailer to promote the podcast and a marketing plan and report. The podcast will be produced in groups of 4, with those working in groups designated specific production roles, for example producer, researcher, editor, presenter. The output should reflect basic editorial and production values in terms of target audience (reflected in the format, content, production style and presentation delivery) and demonstrate an awareness of audio production principles when recording sound, as evidenced by the audio quality. Students will receive an individual mark based on a combination of peer assessment and group mark.

2: Reflective Analysis weighted 50%
1500 word written / 8-10 minute audio or video critical reflection
A written or or audio-visual equivalent critical reflection on the finished product and the production process, with reference to research undertaken, its relevance in the current market and intended audience; students will reflect on the creative, technical production skills required to produce podcasts and on the development of their own editorial/production skills and how they will use these skills in different contexts. The reflection can be produced as a written (1500 words) or audio or visual equivalent of 8-10 minutes.

Please note that for the 2022/23 Academic Year programmes may be adapted to operate in accordance with a flexible, digital approach. This means that there may be some changes made to how modules are delivered and assessed. The latest information will be provided to you by your School in module handbooks. We endeavour to give you as much notice as possible of any changes and details about the circumstance in which changes are made to programmes can be found in the Student Agreement, available at: https://www.keele.ac.uk/student-terms-and-conditions/

Last Updated: 19 January 2023